Arizona reported 14,763 cases of valley fever in 2024, along with 986 inpatient hospitalizations and 86 deaths, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Valley fever is caused by the fungus Coccidioides, found in desert dust in the American Southwest. The annual cost of inpatient hospitalizations for the disease reached $95.5 million in 2024.
Anyone living in or traveling through Arizona can contract valley fever. Health officials advise residents to watch for symptoms including lingering fatigue, cough, fever, or chest pain, and to ask healthcare providers for a valley fever test if concerned. Minimizing dust inhalation during windy days or heavy outdoor activity can help reduce risk, the department said.